Best Outdoor Venue

Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheater

Readers Pick

Why go to Phoenix for the massive-concert experience when so many good and hugely famous acts come to AVA? You can get one of the 1,779 reserved seats up close, or, if you're late buying tickets (and/or strapped for cash), you can sit on the expansive, 2,700-"seat" lawn, where you'll still have a nice view and be able to hear everything that the venue's great acoustics bring your way. AVA is especially good for seeing classic-rock and country idols like Bob Dylan, Van Halen, Peter Frampton and Brooks and Dunn—but it also hosts plenty of alternative, indie-rock and pop acts. (Gwen Stefani under the stars, anyone?) And BTW, despite the website's URL, it should just be called AVA; the last "A" stands for amphitheater. Saying "AVA Amphitheater" is like saying "Rio Grande River."